Greetings everyone, job suddenly stop half way at the end of the climax and seems like my first salary will be on-hold until I don’t know when. Dang, I’m thinking of using half of my cash to print a few copies of my own photography book and also purchase a printer but gaji pun belum masuk. =_=”

As a visual language and also artist ain’t got easy life after all huh?
The world is overpopulated after all. Ain’t like the 70′s, 80′s or 90′s where you heard from the elder cousin, uncle can get job easily no matter how carefree or lazy are they. I’m so envy too the max!

Went to Australian Place area 2 days ago asking quote for making a size of a5 book. At first, My mind went wild thinking of print 100 copies then I my inner sense tells me “Ko gila ka? 20-30 keping cukup suda bah itu!”.
Tian Sing give me RM20 perbook if I request 100 copies. Which mean RM2k! Out of my budget, I might meet them again for another good deal If I want to print 20-30 copies of my own photobook in about 35-38 pages.
Orange Channel gives me 50cent perpage + RM3.50 for ring binder. But I wonder what kind of ring binder do they use?
Now I’m waiting for another friend of mine who’s been working with a few printing companies in KK. Hopefully I can get better deal lah.

Anyhoo, I found a website that you can purchase a non-commercial music for independent internet film maker who loves to post their personal video or creation on youtube and etc. 1 song only cost about USD1.99. It’s cheap and you don’t need to worry about the copyright issue + your video got remove from youtube management. The website is http://www.friendlymusic.com/. Hop in there and have a look!

I might get a few fresh and funky music there for my video too!
I’ve been doing lots of reading related with all the current issues of Photojournalism and found this awesome image below :

Image doesn’t own by me. This photo own via here

Seriously, with this shirt I have.. When someone talk aimlessly about their camera and how to be awesome rated photographer to me. I just turn 180 degree and ask them to read while I’m popping out my earphone and start pressing play button and listening to my fav song of all time.

Wah…. Kimochi desu bah! haha

Lastly, I got myself a Photoshelter Basic Account. Looks like a promising photo archive site to me and have been upload a few photos there for you guys to see. Hop into my photoshelter website, http://flaneganb.photoshelter.com. So far, I only upload a few of em cos I’m too lazy to check all my photo archive in my external harddisk.

2008 – Images by Flanegan Bainon

Wah, been update my blog actively for quite a while eh? Bah, 女と男! Have a great day ahead..

-peace bebeh and one love-

Popularity: 9% [?]

Life, Sabah 3 Comments July 8th, 2010

Hello… Im back from Tongod, instead of staying there for 3 nights. My trip to Central Sabah only ended up for 24 hours. Because one of my boss need to head back to KK for some personal reason. He chose me to follow him, and the others will remain there continue to document the life of Herbalist for a day.

The only way you can visit or get into Tongod is via Road Access, it takes about 5 hours using a small car such as Kembara to reach Tongod Town. And another 2 hours to get into central Sabah Kg Karamuak or Kuala Karamuak (the local here pronounce Karamuak as Keramok).

Telupid – Tongod New Road.

From Kota Kinabalu to Ranau takes around 2 hours, then we had a small break for 30mins+ then continue our destination to Telupid for another 2 hours. Make sure to fill in your petrol/diesel in Ranau because Telupid don’t have any Gas Station. If your car use lots of Petrol, bring extra or 2 huge bottle to fill in the gas. Just incase you drive halfway your car suddenly out of Gas. Fun become Not Funny anymore.

Pekan Tongod

Once reach Pekan Tongod, we decide to have another cup of coffee at one of the restaurant. Everyone thought that Kg Keramauk is only a short distant away from here.

But we’re damn wrong…. We have to drive offroad, pass by lots of Palm Oil Estate and also Jungle with no communication signal and only hope someone pass-by to tell us where is “Keramauk”.

Never ending road to Karamuak.

Driving offroad on Kembara gives you free butt massage or whole body because the car keep on moving up and down nonstop for 2 hours. The road is gribble, lots of sharp rock and makes us so worried that the car’s tyre suddenly puncture in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal. Is not funny! But 1 hour 15mins later, we saw a small signboard says “Simpang ke Karamauk”. Everyone in the car feel so relieve, but the road get into Keramauk haven’t end yet.. It takes 45mins from the junction into Keramauk until we saw houses and villagers wandering around. Relieve too the max!

Keramauk, where Hutan and Orang Sungai lives only a few distant from the nearest wide River.

If you’re interested to visit here. Yayasan Sabah do provide a place to stay for those who are interested to have a lil bit of adventure get into Central of Sabah.

I realize most of the villagers are locals. Orang Sungai (Dusun and etc), some of them used to have a awesome life in KK City or Sandakan before but they decide to go back to their own land and have a simple life where they originated from. I’m very touch with their stories.

Settlement House in Keramauk.

Most of the Settlement house are belongs to Yayasan Sabah, most of the workers are local from Sandakan, Tuaran or even KK work for Yayasan Sabah. Yayasan Sabah are the one who redesign the whole kampung area in Central Sabah. 40 years ago, there’s no road access into this village. The only way you can get into Karamuak is via Kinabatangan River. Back those days, By Boat it takes about 3 months to Reach Sandakan. Imagine that! Even 7 hours drive from KK to Keramauk suda start whining like a baby in the car. HAHA GILA!

No Phone Signal!

If the villagers here wants to contact their relatives in KK or Sandakan. They have to drive all the way to Tongod town to get a proper Coverage. In Karamuak, you can throw your mobile phone into the Kinabatangan River and feed the crocodile or some say feed the dragon. Tidak sampai hati saya mau umban my phone ohh. Thank god I have lotsa reason why I still can use it. I call it my mini-laptop.

The main attraction in Karamuak is the Pyramid look-a-like Mountain (Gunung Tingkar) where the late 1963 Wessex Helicopter wrecked there. And also the wide mini river of Kuala Karamuak where it’s connecting the Kinabatangan River. Experience Sunset in the central of Sabah is one of a kind too. You can know where is Sandakan and Where is Kota Kinabalu by looking at the sun. Interesting rite! Aisehmen~~

You are now somewhere around this area.

Once we reach to the Yayasan Sabah’s Forestry Centre. The Officer shows us the map and point where are we now.

I’m so proud for a moment because I’m now exactly in the middle of Sabah. Out of nowhere, because 2 years ago Im thinking of explore Sabah for my future Photography Project that related with Sabah Map itself.

Kuala Karamuak River, at the end of the junction is Kinabatangan River.

Haish.. Too bad I can’t join the other crew for a boat ride. Because there’s no extra space for me and the Cameraman Assistant. We’re ended up hang out at one of the hut and talk about how hard to make a living as a Cinematographer and also Documentary Photographer.

After the production crew done their work, we take a rest for a few mins and have dindins. After dindins, going up to the hill and the production crew continue their work and me continue as a the behind the scene photographer.

One of the herbalist try to show off their skills in Kulintangan. Until I myself, mezmerize how the nenek play Kulintangan. I give it a try! I started to like it..

Me and Nenek while she playing Kulintangan.

Anyone knows where can I play Kulintangan or join Sabah’s Traditional Music Orchestra in KK? I want to be the Kulintangan Boy!

That’s all about Karamuak, Tongod. I wish to visit there again for personal project. Document the villagers there and take some traditional portraits.

Can any NGOs or Sabah Tourism or Ministry of Art and Culture willing to give me a grant to do this stuff? I do this not for myself, for the future and also for the people..

Extra Stuff by Me (Video Footage I took in Keramauk, Tongod), Enjoy! :

Documentary Video of Karamuak, Tongod, Central Sabah.

One more destination to go..

Hint : I’m one of the tribe, My ancestor comes from there before they migrate to Keningau then My dad move to KK City for modern living.

-peace bebeh and one love-

Popularity: 8% [?]

Canon 5D Mark II, Documentary, Life, Sabah 1 Comment July 3rd, 2010

Greetings, I’m at home now for only a day. Just got back from my 4 days job at Ranau and Kota Belud. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to another destination for 3-4 nights again somewhere in Tongod.



Google Map

Here’s some random image below, taken from my Handphone (HTC HD2) and also tested my dad’s new camera Lumix DMC-F2 :

Mount Kinabalu Background

Dusun’s Accessories.. Bubu’ and Berait.

The backpack @ Berait is darn comfy.. I wish I have a modified one for my camera. haha

Your New Monsopiad or Pendekar terakhir Dusun.

Oh wait.. I’m Murut! hahaha inda apa.. Kita orang KDM juga.

After job done in Ranau, an hour drive to Kota Belud where it is famous for mysterious ghost called “Balan Balan”.
If you wonder why all shop closed in Kota Belud’s Town around 8pm, because most of the locals still believe “Balan Balan” still exist and afraid bump into it because if you saw it people’s says you’ll be in deep trouble.

Kota Belud

Manja Kucing

The place I stayed in KB, Taginambur (15km from KB’s Town) has a very manja cat.

Small Butterfly

While the production team shooting how the Bobolian doin his ritual. The Small Butterfly stays with me for about 10mins, manage to capture very close macro shot of it.
Creepy somehow..

River side

View of Mount Kinabalu somewhere in Taginambur.

Kota Belud

Extra stuff, footage from Ranau. Kota Belud, camera abis battery suda :

Ranau

gonna take a nap for a bit.
panat!!

-peace bebeh and one love-

Popularity: 6% [?]

Documentary, Life, Sabah 1 Comment June 30th, 2010

Due to work involve lotsa outdoor.. I got tanned like heck. Got darker like orang kampung. Easily get tired every time and now I’m at home chillax for a couple of hours before continue the journey with the crew again. Seems like My contract job won’t last for 2 months. 3 more locations to go then doing some post production and done. Which is a good thing because somehow, I got tired doing the same thing over and over again. The only interesting thing about it is discover other place of Sabah that I never been to especially Village side and other region. Hey, I’m born and raise in KK and I only been to a very kampung place once in my life when I was 14 in Tenom. Even my dad’s hometown is not really kampung because it has all kind of access like what City people have. Seems that my Taiwan and Japan Trip is still plan on!

Here are the image below from 17th until 20th June. Kiulu (not in pics)-Matunggong – Kota Marudu – Ranau.

Villagers in and Out to Matunggong’s Tamu.

Gong Collection.. Somewhere in Matunggong’s Village.. 20+mins drive from Pekan.

Rungus Kid. Kampung Gombizau, Matunggong.

Fed Up Dog Who I kept on follow him.. haha. Somewhere in Kota Marudu’s Village. Kampung Langkon

Kampung’s Hut or Store in Kampung Langkon.

Video Shooting in Progress

Dusun Tobilung Elder showcase one of the last remaining culture for the production crew to record.

Dusun Poem replying back each other.. Very beautiful.. But I don’t understand 80% what are they saying..

View of Sabah’s Majestic Mount Kinabalu. 20mins+ drive from Ranau’s Pekan to the kampung..

Kampung Dog in Ranau

One of Dusun’s Martial Art masters in Ranau. Kun Tao Silat Dusun… Something like Wing Chun ni China.

I’ve also upload a few images via Twitter’s Twit pic. Just hop into my Twitter or right column of this blog.
That’s all from me lar…  Im still not get used to it How ‘dark skin’ am I now.. =_=”

-peace bebeh and one love-

Popularity: 7% [?]

Canon 5D Mark II, Documentary, Sabah No Comments June 22nd, 2010

I have no work today.. And decide to update my blog about my current Job.
It’s not a permanent job.. It’s a contract job combine under 5 company + 1 freelance. The freelancer is me, haha.

Basically, my job is a Photographer. But not those kind of fancy photographer you ever heard, because you don’t have the time to plan your image shot and also you are most likely will be the last person to follow them behind (sometimes in-front.. depends).

I shall call myself as a Behind The Scene Photographer temporarily until this job done, expected in about 2 months or 2 and half months.
I’m not the main person, don’t have the favor to do like setup portrait, set up subject shot with proper lighting. I only have slightly less than 5 secs for me to think to shoot when the producer and cameraman stop their recording.

Is a one of a kind job + challenging because you have to observe what are they doing all the time and also doing lots of physical work. If you love your fairskin too, you’ll get tanned from it too because you’ll be outdoor from begin until end of the job.
My task is to get what is the crew doing, and also the person we documenting. Beside capture it using image format, I also record it roughly around 5-10mins every trip we go just incase the producer or cameraman needs a behind-the-scene footage add-in during their post production.

Staff waiting for command while me try to freeze into a frame.

I’ll update more about my work and what am I doing at my twitter. Follow me @flanegan if you want to join my adventure via online.

Althou I only started my job like a week ago I experience allot in all kind of way.

Most of my work have to get into the remote side of village or some say countryside. The villager main language is Dusun, if you don’t understand Dusun Language like me (+ the producer, haha). You’ll definitely become a blank person 80% of all your time. They do speak other language like Bahasa Malaysia but limited. They still prefer speak Dusun comfortably since the cameraman and most of the staff crew can speak Dusun. =_=”

Why lar my dad never teach me Kadazan/Dusun when I was young!

Don’t be super hero when you get into the jungle.. Like Me!! Why I said so because I’m wearing Short and Sandals. Jungle in Sabah unlike any other country because our Jungle is very hilly.. Always expect something unexpected because somehow… No matter how good are you konon.. You’ll eventually slip yourself when it comes to downhill. haha

Hilly Jungle + Short and Sandals = Not Funny.

I always respect Village people, althou some village area already provide electricity but still don’t have access such as road, transportation, internet and good signal of telecommunication except home phone. One of the person we document looking for something in the village climb one of the tall tree like a spiderman all the way top in less than 10 seconds. More respect! I salute him all the way when he get down from the tree in less than 8 seconds. yes, I count it. haha

iti nopo nga gambal.. haha

First outdoor job I’ve learn that don’t wear sandals anymore.. The next destination, I wear long pants and shoe so that I can climb up the hill easily.

Kasut in a jungle… Very hard to climb lar with long pants!

I feel regretted again wearing long pants and shoe because we have to cross the river.. Not once but 3 times.. Atokkuii~~~ Molohing~~

Kasut Izou basah…

Kasut Basah.. Seluar Basah.. Stocking Basah for whole day..
Sampai rumah rendam kaki with warm water.. Siok man! Puas hati also lar…

And so i wonder.. Since I live and grow up in a city and urban environment. What if 1 day, I got drag and live in Kampung area. I mean Kampung as Kampung not Kampung your Kampung a.k.a Hometown…
No internet.. Only House, Telephone and a bed. What you do everyday is go up the hill looking for source to feed yourself and also your family. Tanam mangga, bela Ayam, Itik and Vogok.

Personally, I think I can’t live like that lar.. Homestay can lar or short stay but if… Forever…. Impossible too the max! Cannot speak Dusun lagi, and I’m so internationalize again. uhuu~~

Ini hari cari apa makan gia?

But I like to see Children who live in Kampung environment… They are so Innocent and curious, Got 1 kid look at me and say “Ko btul2 bulih naik bukit ka? rumah saya d sanaaaaa atas bukit.” Macam insult but somehow the way he ask me so cute.. LOL Like the way he ask you like you want to tell him the truth.. So I joke with him “saya lumpat jak.. sampai suda.”

His home need to climb at least 3 steep hills to access into his house. I climb up to 2nd hill I’m out of breath already.. haha
At least, I manage to arrive lar…

1st Hill… 2 more hill to go..

Will I lost weight in 2 months because I climb too much hills?
I don’t know will see!! in 2 months time…

Here’s the video below after finish shooting documentary… going down hill, the video can’t tell how steep is the hill thou.

Down Down.

-peace bebeh and one love-

Popularity: 14% [?]

Canon 5D Mark II, Life, Sabah 6 Comments June 15th, 2010